View full sizeMarshalls opened its doors to customers for the first time on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at the Bay City Mall, located at 4101 E. Wilder Road in Bangor Township.Heather Jordan | The Bay City Times

BANGOR TOWNSHIP, MI — Hundreds of bargain shoppers gathered at the new Marshalls store in the Bay City Mall Wednesday morning, Oct. 30, for the retailer’s grand opening event, which included gift card giveaways and music.

Johnnie Walker, who goes by "Dj J2xtrubl," played music and announced gift card giveaways near the store’s entrance.

By about 10 a.m. he estimated nearly 1,000 shoppers had come through the door. Some had waited in line outside prior to the store’s opening.

“There was probably, I would say, a good 200 people waiting. It was almost to Younkers,” he said. “There was one lady, a 94-year-old lady, that was waiting in line.”

Designer and brand name shoes, clothing, luggage, accessories and home goods are just some of the things that filled the shelves and racks in the new store Wednesday morning.

“It looks just beautiful,” Tracy Volk, Bay City Mall marketing and event coordinator said of the new store.

Volk said Bay City Mall, located at 4101 E. Wilder Road in Bangor Township, is very excited to have Marshalls join its tenant mix.

“It’s another strong store and it’s really helping to … increase business here, as well as just bring what our customers are looking for,” she said.

The new 21,960-square-foot store opened at 8 a.m., following a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Store officials also presented a $5,000 check to the Bay Area Women's Center.

Pam Bauer, 65, of Saginaw Township, stood in front of a full-length mirror and tried on a jacket in the bustling store, her cart full of merchandise.

“Finding lots of good things, actually. I love Marshalls. I love this company. It’s like a treasure hunt,” she said. “Some real good deals.”

Bauer said she was looking for a variety of items.

“Looking for things for the home, clothing for myself, Christmas presents. A little bit of everything. Can’t beat the prices, right?" she said.

Friends and Bay City residents Marie Willard and Julie Julian, both 70, also browsed together on opening day.

Willard found a pair of corduroy pants for herself.

“We come out (to the mall) every day to walk,” she said as they skimmed the clothing racks. “I like the prices.”

Marshalls officials say the company is creating about 60 full- and part-time jobs at the mall location.

“The new Bay City store will be stocked with a new, fresh assortment of the designer and brand name merchandise that shoppers love, every single week,” Richard Sherr, president of Marshalls, stated in a news release. “Our buyers are fashion experts with a keen sense of style and are passionate about finding the most coveted merchandise for our shoppers for so much less.”

Volk said the new store is good for the entire mall, which has as its anchor stores Target, Younkers, Sears and J.C. Penney.

“Just really positive feedback, a huge excitement for our other tenants, they’re just thrilled that they’re here and excited to have another great store at Bay City Mall,” she said.

Barb Behmlander, Bay City Mall general manager added, “The Marshall’s addition at Bay City Mall is a great example of the Township, the DDA, the Tenant and the Developer working together to redevelop under-performing space. This redevelopment was fast tracked to position Marshall’s to serve the Bay City market for this 2013 holiday season. The cooperation was unprecedented.”

Company officials say more than 10,000 new items will arrive at the Marshalls store in the Bay City Mall every week. Marshalls buyers work with more than 16,000 brands and designers in more than 60 countries annually, the release states.

— Heather Jordan covers business for MLive/The Saginaw News/Bay City Times. She can be reached at 989-450-2652 or hjordan@mlive.com. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook.